Apparatus for the thermal treatment of food products or the like



Nov. 18, 1941. P. CARVALLO APPARATU S FOR vTHE THERMAL TREATMENT OF FOOD PRODUCTS OR THELIKE Filed Oct. 12, 1937 Fiel). 3

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 PIERRE ATTORN 5V5 INVENTOR:

CARVALLO Nov. 18, 1941. P. CARVALLO 2,262,921

APPARATUS FOR THE THERMAL TREATMENT OF FOOD PRODUCTS OR THE Filed Oct. 12, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiaflO.

|NVENTOR= PIERRE, CARVALLO ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1941. P. CARVALLO APPARATUS FOR THE THERMAL TREATMENT OF FOOD PRODUCTS OR THE LIKE 3Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 12, 1937 1 0 0 0 0 0 w o o o m o 0. mv AW 0 .W 0 0 50 o o o o 0 O O O O O O O 0 Q. C 0 Q. 0 0 T L 0 0 0. 0 0 0 INVENTOR= PIERRE CARVALLO w ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 18, 19 41 APPARATUS FOR THE THERMAL TREAT- MENT OF FOOD PRODUCTS OR THE LIKE Pierre Carvallo, Amposta, Spain Application October 12, 1937, Serial No. 168,567 In France October 15, 1936 4 Claims. (CL 126--2'72) The present invention has for object: an improved apparatus for the thermal treatment of food products or the like and particularly for the sterilization of preserved foods.

The invention allows the construction of machines included in the category of continuous sterilising coolers of the agitation or stirring type. In apparatus of this kind, actually in use, the agitation or stirring is irregular, relatively slow, difiicultly controllable and not very efficient. The solutions and improvements proposed according to the invention allow of obtaining for each product and dimensions of vessel the optimum conditions for thermal penetration throughout the mass of the product.

This efficient agitation or stirring allows of treating the products at higher temperatures, the total duration of the treatment being, by this apparatus, reduced to a considerable degree.

The apparatus thus allows of obtaining raw products, that is foods which have not been subjected to an appreciable cooking capable of destroying the vitamines, the flavour and other natural properties of the products.

Certain products such as preserved foods in general and particularly milk and products derived therefrom, fruit juices and tomato juices, etc., may be designated as Raw sterilized products or Live sterilized products or Natural sterilized products or White sterilized products (milk and products derived therefrom).

The invention can be characterised by the following points applied separately or in any combinations:

(a) Use is made of circulation channels constituting at least one continuous circuit and. in which cylindrical vessels can roll; these channels can be closed by any means, angle irons, flat irons, sheet metal, etc. The vessels can be propelled along these channels by means of a chain or bar.

In chain propulsion, the rolling of the vessels can be effected by the action of driving fingers mounted on chains extending all along the circulation channels, the latter forming a closed endless circuit.

In bar propulsion, which constitutes the preferred embodiment, the advancement is effected particularly by causing the vessels to be pushed along these channels by bars, cylindrical or not, provided or not with rollers. These bars are held and driven at their ends by driving members, chains, crowns, etc. which constitute two parallel endless circuits.

In this system, the channel can be constituted by a single turn closed so as to form an endless circuit, or by several turns forming an open circuit. Several similar circuits can be connected in series, in parallel, in enclosing circuits, orbe combined so as to form an endless closed circuit.

(b) The vessels previously defined are introduced in vats containing the treatment fluids. If the treatment is effected under pressure, the vats are preferably cylindrical and fluid-tight distributors allow the admission anddischarge of the vessels. The vanes of these distributors are preferably provided with spring-pressed fluidtight blades. 7

(c) The invention also extends to the arrangement comprising the feeding by selecting distributors, applicable to all the closed propulsion circuits. This arrangement allows particularly of increasing the speed of translation and of rotation of the vessel. In fact, for the satisfactory utilisation ofthe apparatus previously indicated, all the compartments constituted by the driving members, must be occupied. It results therefrom that, for instance for an output of D cylindrical vessels per minute, the speed of rotation of the vessel is about D/2.5 (D/1r corrected for the necessary clearances), This speed may :be too small. It could be increased by lengthening the rolling track which would then be used but partially, this solution can be replaced by selective distribution. Assuming that it is desired to multiply this speed by 6, the endless circuit must be so devised as to form in all, for instance, GNil compartments. The admission distributor will deliver a vessel and the outlet distributor will discharge a vessel everyfi compartments. It is obvious that an adequate synchronism of both distributors and of the driving mechanism will allow each vessel to effect six times the complete circuit before being discharged, that is to say for an equal time of passage in the apparatus, to have a speed of travel and also of rotation six times greater.

tion allow:

l-Iigh speeds of -rot'ation 'pulsion.

structe'd accordingito Fig. 2.

selective controlled by the member driving the bars, comprises, in the first case, an extracting lever and a slide-block controlled by a cam or the single closed turn, or for a double circuit of two or three turns.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the travel or advancement of the vessels which are pushed by bars 3 secured at their ends on chains 4 passing over chain wheels 5. The circulation channel I constitutes an open circuit comprising a single double stage having any number whatever of turns. The bars 3 can be-provided with rollers or tubes which can rotate on the bars in contact ,with the vessels. The movement of the bars 3 can be established, constituted by a's'tei'ilizing" and cooling unit, this unit coniprisi rlg several heating stages and several cooling stages, the

'two upper stages working, preferably at-thesame; pressure.

Ki) The improvements according to :the inven- Of working with a liquid fluid. entirely cover- -i-n'g the circuits followed by the vessel.

0f working with' high or-excess pressure which is advantageous at hightemperatures. Better balancing of the internal and external pressures.

necessary for certain products. r

The invention also extends to other particular' points which will appear in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings given byway of example only,-and in which: ig. 1 is-a diagram of a circuit'with chainpro- Fig. 2 isya diagram of an opencircuit having several 'turnsin a-double stage arrangement with propulsion by means of b-a-rsi Fig. 3'i's a sectional view of a machine con Fig.4 is a crosssection-of a cylindrical twostageapparatus. U I

- Fig; 5 is a longitudinal sectionfof a-cylind-rical two-stage apparatu's.-

Figs. {6 and *7 show the coupling of two circuits by means-of star shape d members for the passage fromone-circuittothe other] r Fig. 8 illustr atesia star-shaped member for the i introduction of vessels-t0 be treated" 7 Fig; :"9 shows a star-shaped member for the extraction of vessels.

"Fig. 1 0 shows-adelivery valve for the; extraction-of vessels mounted on a cooler.

Fig. ll'is a detail view of thedelivery-valve.

' ig'; 1 2'is a sectional View of a basket in which are-contained vessels of any shape: i

Fig; 13 is a general view of an installation.

3 Fig. 14= shows a section of tubular connec tion inFig. 13. 7 v

'Figkl shows-a diagram of aninstallationcomprisingfia single endless chain-fl which-passes vessel or container about'its-prop successively oven-the wheels 5a; 5b -51, "5a.

. The admission 'is'effecte'd by the distributor l l and the discharge by the difierent "distributors V such as 12 or I4,theicirculation -ofthe vessels'being indicated by'th'earrows'; s

The turns andconsequently-the wheels 5 can "beprovided in any numberwhatever. *One of the -tu-rns can be raised fo'r allowing'the' discharge above the-level of the treatment fluidif the'la'tter isa liquid. 1 L

This type of installation which necessitates a chain -of great length is advantageous onIy-for a tion.

compels each vessel to follow the channel I, in the direction-ofthe arrows, these vessels rolling J in the channel in proportion as they move.

vlifig. is a cross section corresponding to Fig. 2 and does not necessitate any special descrip- Si-milar-circuits can be grouped in series, in parallel or be coupled so as to constitute an endless circuit. They can also be concentrically coupled; "A particular case is that which comprises circular-circuits as-shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Anotherparticular case isthat in wliich the circuit I comprises onlyone endless turn; this very simple circuit =-being particularly suitable :with or without selective distribution for the treatment of small outputs-of large size vessels.

Fig. 4 ie a cross section and Fig.5 a longitudinal section of :a cylindrical apparatus having several stages of severalturns. This device .has the guide tracks'6, but gives less regularity in the rotation of the vessels than the devices previously described which present pathsalmost all "of which are horizontal, -nevertheless it will often be sufiicient and the-periods during which the vesseldoes not rotate-are sufliciently-short for-allowing this device tobenefit=incertain=cases from the advantages of the rotation-previously described.

The apparatus thus devised are externally very similar to rotary sterilizing apparatus cur-- rently used particularly in America, but thejprin ciple of advancement of-the tins is different and ofiers numerous advantages: very reduced'cum- =bersomeness owing to thepossibility of providing several concentric stages, more rational ade zva'nce. of the vessel which moves nearly-always by rotating instead ofdoing so main1y by-a iamgitudinal movement of translation as iritheo'rdinary apparatus, very active rotation "of the vessel which takes place-in nearly the entire circumference.

In this new embodiment, the'admission' Hand the discharge i=2 can take place at any point whatever of the external or internal stage-and the-circuit can be varied in numerous-ways and established as previously indicated, either "-in an open circuit, or in a closedcircuit, thela-tterbeing' suitable'for selective distribution;

The apparatus previously described are d e-vised with their rotation 'axes horizontally arrang edQ-in I order to ensure the rotation of each cylindrical r axis arranged horizontally or nearly horizontal.

Figs. 6 and 7 respectively illustrate thejfront end and therear end of an installation 'omp ris ing two open circuits 1!) and 1| provide' d -p ar ticularly with propulsion bars 3. These -two circuits are connected at 12 and 13 bystar-s haped :members 14 and 15 so that-the whol I, closed circuit. I r

These two star-shaped members can be mounted Onthesame shaft which can drive -at the same time, the :wheels of both circuits.

controlling the chains In Fig. 8, the star-shaped member 80 for introducing the vessels receives each vessel 2 and engages it in synchronism with the rolling track.

This device is particularly advantageous for treatment in a liquid fluid, the reduced gravity I of the vessel in this medium being unable, with this process, to cause irregularities in the operation. In this figure, the vessel arrives by gravity.

By reducing a certain number of the vanes of the star-shaped member or by providing this star with a suitable number of branches, selective feeding can be obtained.

The star-shaped member 80 is mounted on the shaft 82 which can be synchronously controlled in any manner whatever and particularly by the member driving the bars. A brake 82 movable about the shaft 82 checks the arrival of each vessel to avoid a too violent impact against the star-shaped member 80. This brake is preferably controlled by a cam 82 having a number of bosses equal to the number of working branches of the star-shaped member.

In Fig. 9, a similar extraction star 8-3 will extract a vessel only if the lever 84 is lifted by a cam 84A shifting arm 84K, at the same time as a slide-block 85 shifted by a second arm 85a connected at 8513 to slide 85 opens or closes the passage 86. This extraction device consisting mainly of lever 84 and arms 84K and 85A centered on pivot shaft 843 therefore allows selective distribution; moreover, it allows the dis- .charge of the vessels from the apparatus above the level of the liquid from the upper level 2 of the circuit of the apparatus in case a liquid fluid is used for the treatment.

These star-shaped members will be provided with a variable number of propelling branches or arms according to the desired selection combinations.

In Figure 10 is shown diagrammatically a portion of the apparatus illustrated as a complete assemblage in Figure 13 with particular emphasis on a valve I used for extracting or delivering the containers or vessels within a continuous cooler 90. This valve is adapted to have several functions, one being to discharge the containers and another to evacuate a certain quantity of water which may enter the portion forming the circuit of travel of the containers at the point of entry of the vessels together with the latter if so desired (see Figure 13), and also to introduce and compress a certain volume of air within the apparatus which this valve may take in through the delivery pipe I21.

In this figure the rotary supply valve I00 as already mentioned, discharges the vessels 2 and a portion of the cooling water. This triple use is particularly advantageous by the simplicity and the economy it ensures.-

The supply valve I60 (Fig. is combined with a star-shaped feeding member III! which ensures the passage in synchronism from the rolling track III, towards the supply-valve I110.

The peripheral fluid-tightness of the supplyvalves is obtained by blades II2 pressed by springs II2 as illustrated in Fig. 11, and lateral fluid-tightness is improved by a labyrinth system.

Fig. 12 illustrates a small cylindrical basket 40 made of perforated sheet metal or the like forming the treatment unit which automatically passes through the machine.

Vessels of all shapes 2I2 are piled up in this basket 40 which includes a rapid closing and locking system, for instance the flat spring 4I held by the claw 4|.

Fig. 13 shows a complete sterilizing and cooling installation according to the invention. The vessel delivery means 84, 84K etc., within tank I23 resemble the parts shown in Fig. 9. This installation comprises, at I20, a temperature raiser with an open vat, an elevator at I2I combined with a delivery-valve I22 feeding a temperature raiser with a closed vat I23. a temperature reducer with closed vat is provided at I24 and a temperature reducer with open vat is arranged at I25.

In this drawing, the internal mechanism of the vats I23 is constituted by two circuits A and B as in Figs. 2 and 3 with driving by means of horizontal bars 3 mounted on pins carried by endless chains 4 and 4 driven by thewheels 5 and 5 actuated by gears through the shaft 5 controlled from the exterior and which carries the star-shaped members for the passage from one circuit to the other, connecting both circuits and the cam which, by means of the link 84 actuates the extraction lever 84. The introduction and extraction, selective or non-selective, according to the desired speed of rotation is effected by the star-shaped members 82 and 83 controlled by wheels driven by the chain 4 or by gears rigid with the chain wheels. At 4 and 4 are provided tighteners for the endless chains; these tighteners act simultaneously on the shafts of the chain wheels and on the rolling tracks which are slidably mounted, so as not to modify the relative position of these elements.

This unit, particularly suitable for the treatment according to the invention at approximately 0., comprises two stages for raising the temperature and two stages for lowering the temperature, allowing a better balancing of the internal and external pressures. Moreover, the cooling in two stages allows of obtaining a considerable economy in cooling fluid, the cooling water from the second apparatus passing into the first apparatus.

Preferably, and the invention includes this arrangement in its scope, the vats I23 and I24 work at the same pressure, the passage from one to the other taking place freely, a cushion of compressed air sustained by the compressor valve I26 preventing condensation in I24 of the steam from I23. This device offers, among others, the advantage of operating with a slight overpressure and, moreover, of diminishing the total loss of steam through the inlet supply-valve owing to the air added. The compressed air can also be admitted by any means, and the over-pressure can be increased in order to effect the treatment at higher temperatures.

The air compressed by the outlet supply-valve can be trapped, by means of suitable partitioning not shown without being mixed with steam, within the vat so as to be able to itself actuate the temperature adjuster. This device avoids a special accessory for effecting this control.

The passage from I23 to I24 preferably takes place by means of -a rolling track not shown slidably mounted within a fluid-tight tube provided with a resilient seal such as I21. This device allows the relative movements of the vats and facilitates the assemblage and resistance to expansion.

The vats I23 and I24 if desired can also be replaced by a single vat provided with an insulating partition.

The vats illustrated are cylindrical vats of great capacity which offer the following advantages: lightness of construction, great capacity Moreover,

of treating fluid allowing :a rigorous constancy of temperature, .easy access through .manholes to :all the mechanism without the .necessity of taking to pieces.

The elevator for the tips 12! is made ofsheet metal entirely .closed so as to recover the steam escaping from the supply-valve I22 which thus reheats the vessels during their passage :in the elevator. in this manner the temperature raiser 12,0 .canzbe dispensed with. in many cases.

The whole of the means described allows of working with :aliquid :fluid covering entirely the circuits throughwhich the tins travel allowing operation at high 'or excess pressure and producing .an efficiency very superior to steam for a :continuous apparatus. In fact, .in such an apparatus usingsteam, the valves for theradmissionand discharge of the tinssystematicallyin- "drinks, .etc., which preserve their colour, their flavour, their vitamines.

'By way of example, a particularly advantageous application will be described in detail, whichconsists in the treatment of ordinarymilk, condensed milk, and productszderived therefrom.

Owing to the apparatus according to the;invention, .themilk is brought as rapidly as possi'ble .and at a high speed of rotation, to the treatment temperature, in contrast with the usual technique which :normally dictatesprogrese sive heating and a minimummf rotation as well ina fixed orrotary discontinuous digester as in a .jcontinuous .digester.

By treatment at approximately 120 to 130 0., perfect sterilization will .be obtained, the milk having, in all, been subjected to more than 100 only for about 2 to 8 minutes according to the speed adopted and to the temperature chosen.

These .figures can vary with circumstances (compositioncontamination) and are given :by .Wayof example only and for allowing themito be compared with the times used in actual industrial continuous or discontinuous processes, in which the .milk is subjected to more than 100 C. during to 40 minutes at speeds of rotation of from down to :zero revolutions per minute. The sterilized milk thus obtained has lost many properties (among others, flavour and colour) which are, on the contrary, preserved by the new process.

The application of this use will allow the very desirable general sterilization of all milk distributed to the public, allowing the milk to .be stocked at ordinary temperatures in small, medium, and large tins, avoiding refrigerating installations, provisioning by night, etc.

In particular, this apparatus offers a practical solution to the nourishment of children.

For that purpose, vessels of variable capacity corresponding to the normal quantities according to age may be used, and in.which the milk would be previously closed for the different periods of feeding, andwould have, preferably, a shapeallowing .a tteat to be formed thereon; in

this way, the milk would he presented to .babies veryleasily'and in an absolutely sterilized :con- .dition.

iThistapparatus is ,also utilisable for the drinks .(cofiee with milk, chocolate, creams, etc.) the lmain ingredient of which isimilk.

:BYWIZY of example of fruit juice, tomato juice .in i1 kilogram "vessels treated in a stationary :digester or retort needs more than60 minutes .in-orfder'that the center of the tin should reach :th'e'temperature of the digester.

At speeds of rotation of 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, the

'nT-hus :with the apparatus-described tomato .juices can bev sterilized in periods varying from about oneiminute and thirty seconds to 6 min- .utes4according to the speedand the temperature chosen,the juices thus obtained having all the properties of raw juices.

.I claim:

1. In an apparatus for thermal treatmento f foodstuffs in containers and of the type in which thescontainers-are rolled along guiding tracks in an enclosure having an inlet and containing a treating fluid, the combination of a rotating dis.- -tributorat the inlet of 'theenclosure for supplyingthe same with containers, abrake for retaining the said containers before they enter said rotating distributor, means for periodically :acting :upon said .brakefor allowing the entrance without shock of :a container into the rotating distributor, guiding tracks for the containers arranged in a closedcircuit, propulsion chains arranged to travel through said circuit and propel cylindrical baskets filled with vessels or containers along the guiding tracks by rolling said baskets on the latter, there being means for drivingsaid chains, a rotating outlet distributor located in an effective position along said circuit to be capable of controllingthe removal of the baskets 'fromithe-enclosure, and operative valve means preventing the removal of each basket untilafter'the same has followed the closed 'cirranged in a closed circuit, chains correspondingv to'the said circuit, pushing members distributed upon the said chains for rolling the containers, said chains being adapted to be continuously driven, a rotating outlet distributor for controlling the removal of the containers from the enclosure, an extracting lever for periodically engaging the containers in said outlet distributor,

aslide-blockfor controlling an opening in front of saidoutlet distributor, and means'foroperating said lever andslide-block in :order to allow the removal of each container only when the same has followed the closed circuit; more than one time.

3. In an apparatus for thermal .treatment oi foodstuffs in containers and of the :typeiin which On the contrary at the containers are rolled along guiding tracks in an enclosure having an inlet and containing a treating fluid, the combination of a rotating distributor at the inlet of the enclosure for supplying the same with containers, a brake for retaining said containers before they enter said rotating distributor, means for periodically acting upon said brake for allowing the entrance without shock of a container into the rotating distributor, guiding tracks for the containers arranged in a closed circuit, propulsion chains arranged to travel through said circuit and propel cylindrical baskets filled with vessels or containers along the guiding tracks by rolling said baskets thereon, said chains being adapted to be continuously driven, a rotating outlet distributor for controlling the removal of the containers from the enclosure, an extracting lever for periodically engaging the containers in said outlet distributor, a slide-block for controlling an opening in front of said outlet distributor, and means for operating said lever and slide-block in order to allow the removal of each container only when the same has followed the closed circuit more than one time.

4. In an apparatus for the sterilization and cooling under pressure of foodstuffs in containers, the combination of a sterilizing enclosure containing a hot liquid under pressure, a cooling enclosure containing a cold liquid under pressure, guiding tracks arranged in individual closed circuits in said enclosures, means for rolling the containers along said tracks, a fluid-tight inlet distributor for supplying the containers into the sterilizing enclosure, a pipe connecting the upper parts of said enclosures which are at the same pressure and allowing the containers to pass from the sterilizing enclosure into the cooling enclosure, a distributor in the sterilizing enclosure at the inlet portion of said pipe, operative means preventing a container from entering the said pipe until after it has followed the closed circuit fully one time, a distributor in the cooling enclosure at the outlet of the connecting pipe for supplying the guiding tracks in the said cooling enclosure with containers, and a fluid-tight rotating distributor immersed in the liquid of the cooling enclosure adapted to allow the escape of one container at a time and for introducing air into said cooling enclosure.

PIERRE CARVALLO. 

